By Staff | May 8, 2026

Photo credit: Tom Powers (@mynameistompowers)

Straight out of the thriving Long Island music scene, Half Dizzy has carved out a unique niche by seamlessly blending the aggressive energy of hardcore with the upbeat rhythms of ska and skate punk. Their high-energy sound, exemplified by the fan-favorite track Sidelines, earned them significant recognition when they were voted the top Long Island band by Alternative Press. The band further refined their powerful voice by recording at Little Eden with the legendary Pete Steinkopf, an experience that emphasized the importance of disciplined practice and high-octane performance. Now part of the Punkerton Records roster, the group continues to foster a deep sense of community with their "Dizzy Crew" through both high-energy live sets and the release of their music on vinyl.

How does the local scene in Long Island influence the specific blend of ska and hardcore found in your music?

Here on Long Island the hardcore scene is very prevalent. I used to be in a hardcore band years ago, and that scene has been growing and its a great example of local music thriving. Growing up I’ve always loved hardcore and ska, so being able to make music that incorporates both is really a lot of fun. It also allows us as a band to fit in when we play shows that are more geared toward "harder" bands or more poppy/ska bands, so it works out for us.

What was the most valuable lesson the band learned while working with Pete Steinkopf at Little Eden?

First I’d like to say, Pete was really such a genuinely fantastic person to work with. They say, "never meet your heroes", but Pete is absolutely an exception to that rule, he was a blessing to be around for sure. If I had to pick the most valuable lesson we learned in that process, was just practice practice practice, We got so much done in a very short amount of time and Pete was actually impressed with us, which was an awesome feeling for sure. We're very thankful for that opportunity.

Which track on the debut album do you feel best captures the high-energy skate punk spirit of the band?

I've had multiple people tell me the song Sidelines is the perfect Half Dizzy song, and I think I agree. It has a lot of the things that really create our sound. It's fast, melodic, catchy, has yelling vocals mixed with singing, a driving bass, killer drums. All of those things make a killer Half Dizzy song.

How did it feel to see the fan support culminate in being voted the top Long Island band by Alternative Press?

That was a really awesome surprise actually. I had asked a few people to vote for us, but obviously i did not expect to win at all! It was really cool seeing all the people we know voting for us. It definitely made us feel a sense of community and support in the local scene for sure! Some people were even actually mad that we won, but what can you do. lol.

What specific element of the Asbury Park studio environment helped shape the powerful sound of this record?

We actually had almost all of this record completely written before hitting the studio, but some of the songs like, "Easton" and "Fade Away" definitely have The Bouncing Souls vibes to them which I'd say is definitely an Asbury Park influence.

In what ways do you balance the technicality of hardcore with the upbeat, rhythmic flow of ska during your live sets?

We like to change up our live sets a lot, Most of the time our sets depend on the other bands were playing with. If were playing a ska festival, obviously most of our ska songs are coming out, but we do have songs that are a bit of both, like "Sidelines". But, the energy is what keeps it all together. Everything we do has a lot of energy, and we like to make the crowd feel it when were playing.

Looking back at the album's release on Punkerton Records, what has been the most rewarding part of sharing these songs with a global audience?

The best part is just having people sing these songs with us at shows. Nothing beats the feeling of a room of people singing together in harmony. Its a moment where, everything else doesn’t matter. The world slips away, loneliness slips away, doubt slips away, and were all in this moment together having a shared experience. Nothing beats that.

We were also able to press these records to vinyl, which is really amazing. You can go to punkertonrecords.com and grab one for yourself!

Anyone you’d like to thank?

Sure, I'd like to thank Brandon at Punkerton Records, without him this record never happens. Pete for showing so much patience and kindness to us, while we took over the studio for a week. And our fans for showing up when we need you and being the best crew we could’ve possibly asked for, we love you Dizzy Crew.

Links

Full length vinyl-Half Dizzy "Yard Sale" [Vinyl] – Punkerton Records

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/0u8ZxeH5TSxguNF2pJxIn3?si=jtoyzznTQ8SiddbP_bqaVg

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/halfdizzyband

Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@halfdizzyband

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